Jesus, friend of sinners

Jesus, Friend of Sinners is the title of a beautiful song from Casting Crowns’ most recent album “Come to the Well“. It is a song which speaks of need for us to show the love of Christ to others, to show what we stand for . . . that we stand for and by the grace that has been shown to us in Christ. We stand for His forgiveness, won on the cross. We want the world to know that our God shows unmeasured grace and love to those who are his enemies. We don’t want the world to define Christians as those who simply oppose everything, and who stand against them. Jesus is the only righteous Judge of those for whom he died, so let’s leave the judging to him. Let this resounding challenge (from the chorus) go with you today:

“Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, Open our eyes to the world at the end our pointing fingers Let our hearts be led by mercy, Help us reach with open hearts and open doors Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, Break our hearts for what breaks Yours.”

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Jesus, friend of sinners, We have strayed so far away We cut down people in Your name But the sword was never ours to swing Jesus, friend of sinners, The truth’s become so hard to see The world is on their way to You But they’re tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up, I’m so double minded A plank-eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Open our eyes to the world at the end our pointing fingers Let our hearts be led by mercy Help us reach with open hearts and open doors Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Break our hearts for what breaks Yours

Jesus, friend of sinners The One whose writing in the sand made the righteous turn away And the stones fall from their hands Help us to remember we are all the least of these Let the memory of Your mercy Bring Your people to their knees

Nobody knows what we’re for, only what we’re against When we judge the wounded What if we put down our signs, Crossed over the lines And loved like You did

You love every lost cause, You reach for the outcast For the leper and the lame, They’re the reason that You came Lord, I was that lost cause, And I was the outcast But You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

‘Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever And I was the lost cause, And I was the outcast You died for sinners just like me A grateful leper at Your feet

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5 thoughts on “Jesus, friend of sinners”

Amen. That is a great song, encouraging us to see people the way Jesus does instead of the way see them. I’ve always loved the line, “Break our heart for what breaks Yours,” which is also in Hillsong’s “Hosanna.” It’s challenging but so rewarding and such a blessing is released when it happens. Thanks for sharing this.